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ACT awards Diplomate status to individuals who have demonstrated an advanced knowledge of the theory of cognitive therapy and expertise in its practice. ACT is multidisciplinary and includes mental health professionals from around the world. Founding Fellows include internationally recognized leaders in the field.
Individuals who apply for membership must document training in cognitive therapy and their postgraduate education. They are required to submit a written case summary with cognitive conceptualizations and audiotapes of actual sessions to be rated by the Credentialing Committee. Becoming a Diplomate provides a number of significant Benefits to ACT members.

How to Apply

Mental health professionals and students who support the use of cognitive behavioral therapy to treat mental health disorders and improve health behaviors are encouraged to apply. The Academy seeks to promote CBT as an effective form of treatment, disseminate information from ACT certified clinicians in the field and enhance collaborative relationships among individuals who utilize CBT. Please follow the steps below to complete an application.
Minimum Criteria
Applicants must have completed the terminal degree in their field and be licensed for independent practice. If licensing is not available or required by law, the applicant may present alternative credentials for review by the Academy. A minimum of forty hours of specific education in cognitive therapy is required to be considered for certification. Applicants must have at least one year of experience using cognitive therapy in a clinical setting with a minimum of ten patients.

Part 1 - Preliminary Review

Part I will request specific demographic, training/degree, practice, and health information. If you need to attach any documentation or testimony to completely answer any of the questions asked in this section of the application, please do so. Please note that you must hold an advanced professional degree and a current license for your profession (if available in your locale) in order to apply for certification. The non-refundable fee for Part I is $250. Once the Credentials Committee has approved Part I of your application, you will be requested to submit Part II. You will be asked to complete and or review the following forms:

Required Reading List,

Professional Liability Detail Sheet,

CBT Training Detail Sheet, and

Clinical Experience in CBT Detail Sheet.

Part 2 - Clinical Competence

In Part II of the application process, clinical competency will be independently and objectively evaluated. In order to conduct this review, we will require a case write-up, including history, formulation and treatment plan, and an audiotape of an actual cognitive therapy session that you have conducted. The fee for Part II is $200.